Kiwi honeymooner killed after falling from horse in Vanuatu
A young New Zealand bride has died after falling from a horse while on her honeymoon in Vanuatu.
Friends and family of Joy Ramirez are in shock after the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed her death on Monday.
The newly-wed was horse riding on an island off the shore of Espiritu Santo when she came off.
"She received a chin injury as well as blunt force trauma to the abdomen region," a Promedical Vanuatu spokesperson confirmed.
"She was moved by boat to the mainland and died yesterday morning."
The much loved Auckland woman, who described herself as an “up-and-coming children’s writer”, was on a delayed honeymoon after marrying her partner Matt Weavers in March.
Newstalk ZB host Tim Roxborogh led a series of tributes to Ms Ramirez, recalling the first day he met the young media company owner.
"I was amazed at how beautiful this person called Joy was," he said following news of her death.
"If ever somebody embodied the name their parents chose for them it was her. She was so positive, so full of possibilities, so full of joy.
"If she wanted to organise bands and music tours, that's what she did. If she wanted to work in TV, that's what she did.
"If she wanted to be a published children's author, that's what she did."
A spokesperson for Tile Warehouse, where Ramirez was a "company ambassador", said she was "taken far too soon".
"Joy was a lovely person and her beautiful nature shone through in both our TV advertisements and collateral," the company wrote on Facebook.
"We send our love and thoughts to Joy's husband, family and friends at this sad time".
